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Read. Follow. Verify.Review of the 2019 Budget Request for U.S. Special Operations Forces
Record date · January 1, 2018
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What This Bill Does
The House Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities held a hearing to review the $13.6 billion budget request for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The discussion focused on the record-high funding request, the reliance on temporary war-funding accounts, and the strategic deployment of forces globally.
The hearing addresses a proposed $13.6 billion budget for U.S. Special Operations, which includes a 10% increase in funding and an expansion of personnel to over 71,000, impacting national defense priorities and military readiness.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Special Operations Forces
The force is subject to potential expansion to 71,000 personnel and changes in operational funding structures.
Department of Defense
The department is responsible for managing the $13.6 billion budget and aligning force deployment with the National Defense Strategy.
Key Facts
- The fiscal year 2019 budget request for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is over $13.6 billion.
- The request represents a 10% increase in funding compared to the previous year.
- The proposed budget seeks to increase the total size of the force to over 71,000 personnel.
- Approximately 33% of the operations and maintenance accounts are funded through Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding.
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- U.S. Special Operations Forces are currently active in approximately 80 countries.
- The subcommittee expressed concern regarding the reliance on OCO funding, which Chairwoman Stefanik described as creating a 'facade' of readiness.
- The hearing addressed the role of Special Operations Forces in the context of the National Defense Strategy, specifically regarding threats from Russia and China.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money is being requested for Special Operations in 2019?
How many personnel are included in the proposed Special Operations force size?
What is the concern regarding 'OCO' funding?
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News Coverage
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Reliance on Emergency Funding
The subcommittee identified a persistent and growing dependency on temporary war-funding accounts (OCO) for core operations and maintenance, which they characterize as a structural weakness.
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Sources
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Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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